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Studying Among TOP Universities across Globe

Logos of Ivy League, Russell Group, and Group of Eight Australia universities with their emblems and names on a white and red background.

I have seen it many a times, that students know only about Ivy League of Colleges while planning to study abroad. But this half knowledge leads to a lot of misunderstanding / confusion. While the term Ivy League stands true for USA Universities – what about UK and Australia. Do they also have or not have their Ivy League colleges. And what does this term signify.

Let’s first understand what does Ivy League college mean to the students.

The Ivy League is a group of eight prestigious private research universities in the Northeastern United States. These universities are known for their academic excellence, selective admissions, and historical significance.

The Ivy League is often seen as the gold standard for academics in the U.S., these schools/universities offer world-class education and are highly respected around the world.

 

 

The admission process for these elite schools is highly competitive; you’ll need to achieve standards that are much higher than the ones at any average public university. For instance, the overall admission rates are always under 10%.

Like wise to Ivy League of Universities in USA, Similar set exists in UK too, referred as Russel Group.

The Russell Group is a self-selected association of 24 leading, research-intensive UK universities. Established in 1994, it represents these universities' interests, particularly in collaborating on research. These universities are known for their high-quality teaching, significant research output, and strong global reputations. 

Russell Group universities are highly research-intensive, producing a large proportion of the UK's world-leading research. They are generally considered among the most prestigious universities in the UK and often rank highly in global league tables. List of these universities include –

Russell Group Universities UK

QS World University Rankings 2026

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2025

Imperial College London

#2

#9

University Of Oxford

#4

#1

University of Cambridge

#6

#5

University College London (UCL)

#9

=22

King's College London

#31

=36

The University of Edinburgh

#34

#29

University of Manchester

#35

=53

University of Bristol

#51

#78

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

#56

=50

University of Warwick

#74

#106

University of Birmingham

#76

=93

University of Glasgow

#79

=87

University of Leeds

#86

#123

University of Southampton

#87

#115

University of Sheffield

#92

=98

Durham University

=94

=172

University of Nottingham

#97

=136

Queen Mary University of London

=110

=141

Newcastle University

#137

=157

University of Liverpool

=147

=160

University of Exeter

=155

=172

University of York

#169

=146

Cardiff University

#181

201-250

Queen's University Belfast

=199

201-250

 

Getting admission to these Universities is also not very easy, especially the top ones. Students looking higher studies in UK should first explore and secure admission in Russel Group Universities, as it ensures quality academic and research focus during the curriculum, and also help in long term financial gains as the return post studies are way higher that other universities.


Moving on – Australia followed a similar track with their own set of Go8 ( Group of 8 ) Universities.

The Group of Eight (Go8) universities in Australia is a coalition of the country's leading research-intensive universities. The Go8 was incorporated in 1999. The Go8 is focussed on, and is a leader in, influencing the development and delivery of long-term research, and also in developing elite international alliances and research partnerships.

List of Go8 Universities -

 

Students must first ask for Ivy Leagues of each of the above-mentioned countries (Russel Group and Go8 Universities) while seeking admission. While it’s easier to get admission to rest of the colleges, it’s not very difficult to secure admission to these top universities. Especially students securing good scores in 12th ( > 80% ) and Bachelors (>70%) should try these. One just needs as structured approach and a clear direction while applying. 

Education abroad (Study Abroad) is a long-term investment, and every aspect needs to be very well monitored. Do discuss with your friends, mentors and education consultants – every bit of knowledge will help you refine your decision before you commit your career to a particular university or country. I always refer to three most important factors while considering your study abroad plans

1.       Right Program (Long term career and individual’s interest/passion related to the subject)

2.       Right Location (City and Country)

3.       Right University (Refer Univ Ranking QS / THE Rankings)

Wish you a very good Luck for your decision on education abroad plan, it a step worth to be considered for higher studies.

 

 
 
 

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